Police: Family Feud Leads to Fatal Shooting of 5 Year-Old

Minneapolis police say a family feud led to gunfire that killed a 5-year-old boy as he slept on a couch inside his grandmother's home in north Minneapolis early Tuesday morning. 

They believe the shooting may have been retaliation for another shooting the night before just one block away.

Police believe one person fired about 10 shots into the house on the 4500 block of Bryant Ave. N. then fled on foot. At least one bullet went through a wall and hit the 5 year-old, killing him.

The little boy's family identifies him as Nizzel George. Nizzel lives in Brooklyn Park with his mother.

Police believe they know who they are looking for in this case. They have interviewed witnesses, but have not made any arrests so far.

Mayor R.T. Rybak calls it a "heinous act."

"It's extremely tragic when you have these young, innocent kids who are killed as a result of poor choices that are made by older kids and adults that are around them," Minneapolis police Inspector Mike Martin said.

Several people were inside the house at the time of the shooting, including other children. Police say the home Nizzel was sleeping in was the intended target.

Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan urged neighbors to use their outrage to come forward with information. He says gunplay in the streets needs to stop.

Police are very familiar with the home where the shooting happened. Records show they have been called there 33 times since January 2010 on reports of domestic abuse, assault, fights and disturbances.

Tuesday morning police installed a mobile camera at the intersection where the shooting happened. The camera will record all activity in the area as a preventative measure.

This is the second child shot by a bullet going through a home in six months.

Three-year-old Terrell Mayes was shot and killed by a stray bullet in December while in his home on Colfax Avenue North. The two shooting are not related.
 

Tweet